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Windows 2000 AD Domain To Windows 2008 R2 SP1 Domain

Question

Our current network consists of 9 Win 2k Domain controllers and 7 sites along with Exchange 2003. The Domain controllers are running on Proliant servers. I know that we can not do an inplace upgrade to Server 2008 R2. We want to retire the older hardware
that the Win 2K DC's are running on and install Windows 2008 R2 on new servers and add them to the Win 2K Domain as members servers then promote the Windows 2008 to Domain controllers. So I have a total of 9 Win 2k Domain controllers to replace with
Windows 2008 Domain controllers.

I am currently building a test duplicate network of our live network to test the upgrade process. Not being familiar with Server 2008 I have been searching for good documentation on this.

Does anybody know of reall good documentation that explains the process of what I am trying to do? Any information would be appreciated.

For WINS, I would introduce a replication partner, allow them to replicate, then change the WINS address entries so the new one is in your DHCP Option 044 as the first entry, then eventually change it to the only entry. If you have more than one already,
then juggle it around until you are only using the new 2008 R2 WINS.

One more issue I forgot to mention. Each of the 9 Win 2k DC's have DNS installed (Active Directory Intergrated) on them and 1 DC actually has Wins also.

When I deploy the new Win 2008 R2 DC's I will install DNS on these. Is there any good articles about transistioning to Win 2008 DNS / WINS from Win 2K? After all Windows 2008 DC's are inplace and running. The 9 Win 2K DC's / DNS servers will
be demoted to member servers then removed permantley from the network.

you should think about if WINS is really required in your network. DNS is sufficient to run a domain. Do you have any WINS requirements, services, applications or do you just will keep it because of "we always had WINS"?

For WINS, I would introduce a replication partner, allow them to replicate, then change the WINS address entries so the new one is in your DHCP Option 044 as the first entry, then eventually change it to the only entry. If you have more than one already,
then juggle it around until you are only using the new 2008 R2 WINS.

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